Today we’d like to introduce you to Devon Mathews
Devon, we appreciate you taking the time to share your story with us today. Where does your story begin?
Like many artists, I started in church. I grew up at Mt. Sinai Baptist Church, which was founded by my late great grandfather, Rev. Rufus Wilson. It was my first audience and the first time I had a mic in my hand. I loved giving review for my Sunday school class, Vacation Bible School, speaking, and of course singing in the youth choir. I began leading songs early on and I was President of my youth dept. for many years. Being a church kid built character. It built social skills and of course relationship with Jesus Christ. My mother, Rebecca Cheatham Wilson, kept me extremely busy. My father, David Wilson, is a bass player and Air Force veteran. Although my parents divorced when I was young, they both believed I was special early on. But my Mommie was right there every step of the way in her tee-shirts of me and being a home room mother. I excelled in almost everything academically and in extra-curricular activities. I loved school, especially English and science! I remember getting first place in the science fair at Tynan Elementary from 1st to 5th grade. I won the bike rodeo (although it was taken away because they placed me under the boys category because of my name). Mommie got it back though, lol. I was in the Nutcracker and many plays. While headed to acting class at the Carver Theatre, I remember seeing a show set up. On the way out, we were stopped and I was casted in my very first professional show at age 7. It was a 2 week run of The Colored Museum by George C. Wolfe. It was overwhelming and although I was sleepy at school, I got a taste of the stage and I fell in love. My mother supported my dreams and pressed the gas. I said all this to say that she expected excellence. That’s how she raised me and I tried my best to deliver. She told me she knew I was a girl and believed I was a star in her womb because I would always get active in her belly at church and when she was around music. Hence, I was in many choirs growing up including SAISD District Choir, Citywide Youth Choir, and SAYE (the San Antonio Youth Ensemble). I did everything from majorette (baton), to dance team, and cheerleading. I was an All-American Dancer and was invited to dance in the Super Bowl and a Jr. Spurs Silver Dancer as well. Thus I became Head Cheerleader my senior year at Brackenridge High School. And I loved every minute! My Mother asked me what was the one thing I’d do for the rest of my life without pay. I replied “be on stage”. And here we are. I studied music theatre performance at SWT/Texas State University-San Marcos and landed my first lead role as an incoming freshman in HAIR as Dionne. I went on to do many shows there including Chicago, For Colored Girls in ethnic theatre workshop, and the lead in the. reading of Somebody Called by Eugene Lee. I was also choreographer and president of Harambee Dance Group, president of the NAACP, and chaired major conferences such as the African American Leadership Conference. I was also Miss Black SWT 2021, Miss Juneteenth, and Miss Congeniality in the Queen of Soul Pageant. I love pageantry and modeling and even had my own plus size modeling troupe, Curvy Couture SA. I’m a girly girl and was always intrigued by makeup. I used to watch my mother put on her makeup, nail and toes matching, and her beloved draw of pantyhose! So my love for makeup was always there. I learned stage and special effects makeup and further expanded that love while working over the summer at Ripley’s Haunted Adventure. I’ve done everything from stock theatre at San Pedro Playhouse (A Christmas Carol, DreamGirls, and The Full Monty) as well as Gospel and church stage plays. I mean there isn’t too much about performing arts that I haven’t tried. I can now add filmmaker, producer, casting director, location scout, and dramaturg to the list of credits. And if that isn’t enough, I’m the owner and lead baker of Soul Butter Bakery Co. a licensed home bakery here in San Antonio. I’m a Southern scratch baker and cook; and no matter the medium, whether stage, music, film, or food, I like to make people smile.
Alright, so let’s dig a little deeper into the story – has it been an easy path overall and if not, what were the challenges you’ve had to overcome?
Smooth? Absolutely not! Do you have any idea what it is like for a child who has so many gifts? The jealousy and envy is something horrible for any child to experience. And I hit bumps along the way. By that I mean that I often lost friends for being exceptional at things. This was a life lesson that I learned very early on: People want to see you doing good but never better than them. And because I got tired of it, I would often dumb myself down. I’d pull back and occasionally get answers wrong or act like I couldn’t do something to keep from getting eye rolls or getting picked on. Losing friends is just a part of the game. It’s something I still go through because I never know who is sincere or who befriends me because they want something from me, known as transactional friends. You get tired of being used in this game. That is the downside. There’s very little integrity in music and entertainment in general. Artists have been getting their music and likeness stolen since the beginning of time, especially Black artists. Being a woman led band leader has also had its share of obstacles. Venue owners, promoters, and bar managers are mostly male. It has been a tumultuous journey and I’ve had to fight for respect, fair pay, and yes I’ve been double crossed before. But I’ve taken it all with a grain of salt and count my blessings that I’m still able to follow my dreams. This isn’t for the weak. And I’m so grateful to have a Husband who loves and protects me and holds me down. I’m treated a lot differently these days, lol.
Thanks – so what else should our readers know about your work and what you’re currently focused on?
I like to coin myself as a “Jill of all trades and master of most”. Lol! That just simply means that I’m self-aware of the gifts God gave me and I do my best to learn and perfect those gifts to a professional level. I’ve been on stage professionally since age 7. I am a classically trained singer, method actor, and dancer/choreographer who has studied everything from jazz, tap, ballet, contemporary, and majorette dance styles to praise dance and mime which in the church is considered worship arts. I’ve had my band, DevSoul, for over 18 years. We’ve opened and worked with so many artists such as Jagged Edge, Dwele, Chico DeBarge, and more. We had the honor of being the first band to play at the Mayor’s Ball 2024 and was just invited band to this year’s ball as well. I’m super proud of our debut single, Hot Coffee, that is available worldwide on all streaming platforms. Hot Coffee was produced by my brother Paul Cockfield, my very first musician. Paul is a multi-instrumentalist and plays drums, keys, bass, and is an amazing vocalist as well. His brother, Robert Cockfield is my music director and plays main keys. Jesus Caban is my most amazing bass player and my Husband, James Mathews, is on the drums. I’m not an easy band leader, but to know me is to love me. I’d do anything for my band to ensure they get the respect and pay they deserve because they truly are the best in my eyes. And for that, I’m often called difficult. In have a unique relationship with each of them where we hold each other accountable and create an experience unlike any other in the city. It supercedes music. We are family. Music is in my blood and in my body and every part of my life. My dad is a bass player and my mother was a part of the Walker-Ford Gospel Singers and the Mt. Sinai Young Adult Choir. Growing up singing in choirs under amazing music directors has been pivotal in my ear training and to my voice today. In acting and music theatre, I’ve studied some of the greats such as Fosse, Stanislavsky, Debbie Allen, Sondheim, Cicely Tyson, Alvin Ailey, and more. Heck I study Beyoncé so there’s that! I’m a bit of a sponge and very sensory, so everything I see, hear, feel, taste is a training ground or something I can learn from. I’m also an avid reader, writer and poet; and I thank my Mommie for that. She can read a novel from cover to cover in one afternoon. She always ordered me like $50 in troll books every month and I would attack them. I loved me some Superfudge and loved reading the Bible and doing sword drill at church meaning I could find Bible verses in 3 seconds or less. And I had all of the Babysitter’s Club books! Ha! I remember being the only 1st and 2nd grader that was allowed in the 3rd, 4th, and 5th grade parts of the library. I’ve always kind of stood out with my gifts and this brain of mine. And as a child you don’t understand why people don’t like you for being smart, talented, or pretty. So again, I’d dumb myself down by mispronouncing words or acting like I didn’t know the answer. I used to write poems and sit them on my 7th grade English teachers’ desk (Lisa McDaniel-Davis MS) when she’d leave the class. She’d ask everyday who wrote them. Then one day she got really stern and I thought I’d get in trouble. I eventually confessed and she called my mother. Next thing I knew, my poetry was submitted and featured in the National Anthology of Young American Poets. Poetry is such a near and dear part of my art, but it’s one that I don’t expose too much. I even made the Puro Slam National Slam Competition Team but couldn’t go because my mother fell ill. Shout out to Shaggy and all the Puro Slam Poets! I still go back occasionally and judge from time to time. I can host and emcee any event and I’m finding major success as a narrator and voiceover artist. During covid I joined the platform, Clubhouse. I have made lifelong friendships and industry connections from meeting meeting on that audio app. It was on there that my love for performing arts was re-ignited! I was cast as “Shug” in the Hustle and Flow audio drama, Mama Odie in the Princess and the Frog by Allen and Gray Musicals, and cast in the international production of The Color Purple Audio Experience. I also directed For Colored Girls as well. It was a wonderful time during the pandemic that transported me back to my first love: performing and creating art. Voiceover was never on my radar, although I can imitate almost anything or anyone. I love throwing accents and bringing characters to life. And I’m happy to report that I currently have a lead role voicing a character on an Apple podcast series. I wrote and directed my first film, Tamara and The King, a modern day telling of Genesis ch. 38 and it has won several awards internationally. I’m also in the Season 1 cast of the new reality show Women, Power, Respect representing the women of San Antonio as a small business entrepreneur and artist. It was so amazing and I love my cast mates and production team. It was an honor to be a part of it. And at this point as I celebrate over 35 years in performing arts, I pour what I’ve learned into my non-profit, Art Noir Productions. Art Noir is an all Black performing arts group that promotes visibility and opportunities for African American artists on a more consistent basis. I train and teach Black artists from ages 3 on up at no cost. We love our city and love that we add color and dimension to the San Antonio arts landscape.
Do you have recommendations for books, apps, blogs, etc?
My absolute favorite book is Their Eyes Were Watching God by Zora Neale Hurston; and of course I love the stories, lessons, and adventures of the Bible. Other staples in my library are For Colored Girls Who Have Committed Suicide When The Rainbow is Enuf, The Mis-Education of the Negro by Carter G. Woodson, The Color of Water by James McBride, What Becomes of the Brokenhearted: A Memoir by E. Lynn Harris, I Know Why The Cage Bird Sings by Maya Angelou, The Coldest Winter Ever by Sister Souljah, and Becoming by Michelle Obama. And fun fact about me: I’m absolutely addicted to everything Game of Thrones and House of the Dragon. Like… I’ve watched GOT 14 times (S1-S8) and HOD about 4 times. Interestingly enough, I’ve never read the books. That is something I plan to embark upon when my performance schedule permits. I’m big on the book versions and original or live performances of things, especially if it’s brought to the big screen in any way. Forrest Gump had 100x more adventures in the book versus the movie, which was also phenomenal by the way. And catch me going down a true crime rabbit hole on YouTube at 2 am any time of the week. Soft White Underbelly is a fave channel of mine. Those candid stories of survival and victory speak to me. And of course my attention is to all thing Black women, children, fashion makeup, and animal videos. My feeds are hilarious! Want a major take away from my interview: READ. You can do almost anything if you read.
Pricing:
- Book Dev for a solo show or DevSoul Band- Contact Us
- Art Noir Productions- Contact Us
- Soul Butter Bakery Co.- Desserts and Catering- Contact Us
- Private Voice Lessons- Contact Us
- Private Acting Lessons- Contact Us
Contact Info:
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/devsoulofficial
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/devonmathews81
- LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/devon-mathews-97499744/
- Twitter: https://x.com/devsoulofficial
- Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/@DevSoulOfficial
- Other: https://www.DevSoulMusic.com
